ᥫ᭡. CHAPTER TEN!
❛ SHE'S NOT JUST A GIRL ❜ ━━ ( ig, imsg, irl )

✦ INSTAGRAM

sturniolo.triplets has posted to their story!

✦ IMESSAGE

matt 🧸 ; matt
blondie ⭐ ; maeve

matt 🧸
guess what

blondie ⭐
what!

matt 🧸
no you're supposed to guess 🙄

blondie ⭐
bro 😐
okay fine
uhhhhhhhh
you...
idk i'm feeling uncreative rn 💔

matt 🧸
the songwriter is uncreative...?

blondie ⭐
ALRRRR
don't clock me like that 😔

matt 🧸
LOL

blondie ⭐
no not LOL
say sorry

matt 🧸
i'm sorry maeve

blondie ⭐
how sorry?

matt 🧸
very sorry

blondie ⭐
good! 😄
now tell me

matt 🧸
okay well
i'm currently on a plane

blondie ⭐
a plane?
OH
OH
OH
OH
for the premiere........

matt 🧸
when she can use context clues 😍😍😍😍

blondie ⭐
BOYYYYY STFU
but omg
you'll be in LA in what... 6 hours?

matt 🧸
yup
pretty crazy right 😜

blondie ⭐
sooooo crazy 😜

matt 🧸
mhm
sooo
you should probably give me your address now

blondie ⭐
and why do you need my address?

matt 🧸
oh yknow
nick's a huuuuge fangirl so i'm gonna send him over to harrass you for an autograph ☺️

blondie ⭐
BRO BYEEEE
i'm screenshotting that and sending it to him btw
laughed at by matt 🧸

matt 🧸
that's not a good idea
cuz he'll kill me and then i won't get to see you 💔

blondie ⭐
ohhh so THAT'S what you need the address for?
shoulda js said that from the start man 🫤🫤

matt 🧸
god forbid a man is nervous 🙄💔

blondie ⭐
you? nervous?
is it cause i'm pretty be honest 😊

matt 🧸
yeah

blondie ⭐
EEEEK
you just called me pretty 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
indirectly...
wait call me pretty

matt 🧸
you know you're pretty

blondie ⭐
yeah but i want you to tell me
so tell me 😊

matt 🧸
you're very pretty maeve

blondie ⭐
walk em like a dog! 😜

matt 🧸
......
okay turning on airplane mode now!

blondie ⭐
LMFAOOOOOO
mb king 😔

matt 🧸
in all seriousness i do actually have to go
my flight is taking off like rn

blondie ⭐
all good
i'll ttyl
safe flight 😽😽

matt 🧸
thank you
see you in LA

blondie ⭐
see you tmr 🫶

matt 🧸
who said anything about tmr?

blondie ⭐
huh
matt?
matt
matt......
BRO I HATE YOU
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN

mae 🩵 ; maeve
d ✌🏼 ; dante

mae 🩵
how was the flight?

d ✌🏼
chill asf luckily
i watched like 10 episodes of modern family #W
you remind me sm of haley dunphy it's insane

mae 🩵
STFUUUUU BEST COMPLIMENT EVER
MY ANGEL BABY PRINCESS😭😭😭

d ✌🏼
BYEEEE

mae 🩵
the triplets are here btw

d ✌🏼
what
in LA?

mae 🩵
yaaas they're flying in today

d ✌🏼
BRUHHHH
i JUST missed them 💔

mae 🩵
I KNOWWW 😓😓
we could've all hung out at my place

d ✌🏼
aka you want us all to build your furniture for you

mae 🩵
well.... yes! 🤗

d ✌🏼
GTFO
be fr you just wanna see matt

mae 🩵
UMMM
no????
i'm friends with nick and chris too.

d ✌🏼
yeah but you're FRIENDS with matt.

mae 🩵
i don't wanna be friends with a man that looks like that
laaaaawdddddd
laughed at by d ✌🏼

d ✌🏼
you do realize they all look the same right?

mae 🩵
well yes but no
matt has like
an attractive aura

d ✌🏼
GIRL GET THE FUCK OUT
ATTRACTIVE AURA

mae 🩵
BRO IHY
DONT MAKE FUN OF ME

d ✌🏼
BRO
ATTRACTIVE AURA 😭😭😭
you're not real

mae 🩵
ok.
how would YOU describe it

d ✌🏼
umm
idk

mae 🩵
exactly 😐

d ✌🏼
bro
Do I have Attractive Aura 😍 ?

mae 🩵
No

d ✌🏼
Oh 🥀

mae 🩵
Kys

d ✌🏼
BYE
okay wait my taxi's here i gtg

mae 🩵
isn't mal picking you up from the airport?

d ✌🏼
yeah... she's my taxi duh 😄

mae 🩵
bro bye you're not real

d ✌🏼
love you too!

mae 🩵
yeah yeah wtv

MAYDAY
matt 🦇 ; matt
chris 🪄 ; chris
nick 🪽 ; nick
rory 🐞 ; astoria

rory 🐞
hey queens 😘😘😘😘
how was the flight

matt 🦇
never call us queens again

nick 🪽
speak for yourself tf...
flight was fantastic rory 😊😊😊
except chris forgot to wake up matt for food and now he's hangry

chris 🪄
yeah it's really fucking annoying

rory 🐞
LMFAOOOOOOO
common matt L

matt 🦇
? bro

rory 🐞
? bro
anyway
so when are you seeing maeve ❤️

matt 🦇
me?

rory 🐞
no dipshit i was talking to chris
laughed at by chris 🪄, nick 🪽
obviously you?

matt 🦇
kys

chris 🪄
Noo don't kys your so sexy ahaha

nick 🪽
stfu

rory 🐞
unfortunately i have to agree

chris 🪄
???
rude

rory 🐞
sorry king 😔🙏
anyways MATT
answer me.. ❤️

matt 🦇
bruh fine
i'm seeing her at the premiere tmr

nick 🪽
oh

rory 🐞
YAWNNNN

matt 🦇
???
can i stop catching strays for once 🙏

chris 🪄
our main gc is called matt hate club
so no 😁

rory 🐞
you're so welcome for that btw!

nick 🪽
LMFAOOOOO

matt 🦇
no one laughed

chris 🪄
i did
loved by rory 🐞

rory 🐞
why don't you see her tn

matt 🦇
ummmm
idk if she's free

chris 🪄
matt LOCK IN

nick 🪽
yeah MATT

matt 🦇
BROOOOO
i haven't seen her since grad
god forbid a man is nervous 😔😔

rory 🐞
me if i gave a fuck
get her address 😜

matt 🦇
i have it

rory 🐞
SO USE IT ?

matt 🦇
i said i would
but idk

nick 🪽
you make me sick matt

matt 🦇
BRO
PLS
ITS SCARY

chris 🪄
she's just a girl bro get a grip

matt 🦇
no you don't get it
she's not just a girl
like that's my wife guys she just doesn't know it yet 💔💔💔💔

nick 🪽
BYE

rory 🐞
for whatever reason she seems to be into you
SO LOCK IN

matt 🦇
BRO
FINE

✦ REAL LIFE

matt leans lazily against his suitcase as he and his brothers wait outside the airport for a taxi. it's 2pm and relatively warm outside, which is a strong contrast from boston which has been freezing lately. he managed to sleep for a couple hours on the plane, and he watched how to train your dragon at end of the flight, so it's safe to say that he's feeling pretty good. the only thing he wishes for is something to eat, since he was asleep when the food came around and chris forgot to wake him up, meaning he hasn't eaten since breakfast this morning.

the car pulls up a minute later. it's a basic black SUV with tinted windows, and the driver barely spares them a second glance as he parks. nick throws his suitcase into the trunk without a word, before climbing into the passenger seat. he's the one who booked the hotel, so it makes sense for him to sit in the front so he can tell the driver the address.

meanwhile, matt and chris take the back, the former slumping against the window immediately. chris stretches out his legs.

"how long's the drive?" he asks.

nick glances at his phone. "it says thirty minutes, but it'll probably end up being forty with traffic."

matt sighs, closing his eyes. "can we order food now so it'll get delivered right as we get there? it feels like my organs are trying to eat themselves."

nick furrows his eyebrows. "you could've eaten on the plane," he says.

"i was asleep," matt retorts.

"and whose fault is that?" chris asks, and matt just scowls at him.

"yours. you were next to me and didn't wake me up."

chris shrugs. "i was watching megamind."

matt just scoffs. "that movie came out like fifteen years ago."

"still slaps," chris replies with a smile.

they pull out of the airport and into traffic. it's bright — and annoyingly so. everything's beige and palm trees, and suddenly boston feels a thousand miles away, which matt supposes it is.

chris leans forward. "what hotel are we even at?"

nick responds without turning. "that one in west hollywood. they booked us through that PR chick that works with A24 now."

"swear to god if there's no fridge in the room, i'm gonna walk into incoming traffic," chris mutters.

matt stares out the window. "is our hotel where the afterparty is?"

"no idea. probably one of those rooftop places where they charge like, fifty bucks for a soda," nick replies. "you guys wanna go?"

chris shrugs. "i dunno yet."

matt doesn't answer right away. after a moment he mumbles, "maybe."

nick smirks. "he's hoping maeve'll be there," he says to chris.

"i literally never said that," matt retorts, eyebrows furrowed.

"riiiight."

matt flips him off without looking, and the car goes quiet again. the driver's got the radio low — some indie song none of them know playing under the hum of the AC.

chris stretches his arms. "this better not be one of those premieres where they make you stand for three hours before you even get in."

"it is," nick says flatly.

"fuck my life."

they pull up to the hotel a moment later, the SUV slowing in front of a glass-and-marble entrance that looks more like a fancy company's headquarters than anywhere someone should reasonably sleep. valets in navy uniforms step forward before the car even fully stops, moving with the kind of ease that says they've done this a hundred times. matt blinks at the building, taking in the tall arched windows and the way the sunlight reflects off the polished steel edges like it's been designed purely for photo ops.

"jesus," he mutters under his breath.

"you'd think we were actually in the movie," chris laughs as he climbs out.

the lobby is even more dramatic — all white stone floors and modern furniture that looks wildly uncomfortable but expensive. there's music playing quietly through hidden speakers, something jazzy, and the air smells like cedarwood and jasmine, causing matt to immediately want to buy an air freshener with the same scent for his car. he lingers behind his brothers as they check in, staring up at the chandelier above the front desk that looks like it belongs in a museum.

they get their key cards in less than five minutes and are ushered up to their room by someone who rolls their luggage like it weighs nothing. the room itself is just as ridiculous, with floor-to-ceiling windows, muted grey walls, and three double beds that look like they're brand new and have never been slept in. matt sets his bag down near the closet while nick immediately kicks off his shoes and flops down on one of the beds, phone already in hand.

"i'm not leaving this room for the next four hours," he mumbles, scrolling. "who wants room service?"

chris claims the bed in the middle and grabs the remote from the nightstand, flicking the tv on with zero hesitation. he lands on bob's burgers and doesn't even bother looking for anything else. matt watches him sink back into the pillows like he's just run a marathon.

"oh my god," chris grins. "this bed feels like a fuckin' cloud or something."

nick hums in agreement, scrolling further on his phone. "they've got truffle fries. and mini sliders. and— oh my god, they have cinnamon toast."

matt hovers near the edge of the room for a second longer, shifting his weight between his feet before clearing his throat. "i'm... uh, gonna head out for a bit," he says casually, grabbing his phone from the desk.

neither of his brothers look up. "cool," chris replies, eyes still glued to the tv. nick offers a small wave with one hand, which is the closest thing to a goodbye he's capable of when food is involved.

matt's weirdly grateful for the lack of teasing. they know exactly where he's going, and the fact that they don't make a thing of it makes it easier to leave.

once he's out in the hallway, he pulls his phone from his pocket. there's a message from maeve that she sent a few hours ago, while he was still in the air.

he heads downstairs, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. outside, it's even warmer than it was at the airport. the late afternoon sun has started to settle lower in the sky, casting long shadows against the sidewalk, and matt squints as he waves down a cab from the street.

it turns out she lives five minutes away, up near beverly hills, tucked somewhere past the designer stores and streets lined with palm trees too perfect to look real. the ride is quick and quiet, just the low hum of the engine and the occasional honk of someone cutting lanes. matt stares out the window, watching the city change around him in blinks — the sidewalks getting cleaner, the buildings glossier, the people on the street dressed like they're expecting to be photographed.

the car slows in front of a gated complex. white facade. matte black railings. flowers that look like they've been arranged by a stylist. it's the kind of place where even the mailboxes probably cost more than his camera.

matt leans forward slightly. "this it?"

the driver nods, already pulling over. matt thanks him, slips out of the cab, and adjusts his hoodie as he heads toward the entrance.

the gate buzzes him in after one ring, and matt makes his way up the stone steps, weaving past neatly trimmed hedges and a small water fountain that looks like it belongs in the lobby of a luxury spa. he's not nervous, not exactly, but there's a strange, anxious weight to the air around him.

maeve opens the door before he can knock.

she's wearing ugg tasmans, paired with blue and white pinstripe shorts with an oversized one direction tour t-shirt. her long, blonde hair is tied up into a messy ponytail, her bangs falling perfectly over her forehead. she looks tired, pretty, and best of all: real.

"hey," she says, brown eyes sparkling as she leans her shoulder against the frame.

"hey," he echoes, and then just stands there for a second.

it's weird seeing her like this. in a doorway. in person. in the daylight. he's seen her face a bunch of times over facetime, and a million more in music videos and on his instagram feed, but this is so different. she's shorter than he remembers, but it doesn't bother him at all.

"you coming in or...?" she asks, tilting her head to the side with a smile.

"right. yeah." he steps forward, nearly trips over the threshold, catches himself. smooth, he thinks to himself, embarrassed.

she smiles as she shuts the door behind him. "i saw that," she giggles.

matt just awkwardly shrugs, following maeve inside and up the stairs.

"you want something to drink?" she asks, briefly turning to look at him as they ascend the stairs up to the third floor. matt honestly would've preferred to take the elevator, but he kind of likes that she chose to walk.

"water would be great, thanks," he replies.

her apartment is bright, filled with warm light and soft surfaces — soft couches, vinyl records stacked beside the speaker, a vase of pink tulips on the kitchen island. he follows her into the living room, settling awkwardly onto the corner of the couch while she tosses him a bottle from the fridge. it's still cold, condensation already slipping down the sides. maeve drops into the opposite end of the couch, pulling her legs up crisscross and tucking a pillow under one arm.

matt twists the cap and takes a sip. "thanks."

she nods, her dark eyes taking a moment to roam him.

it's quiet for a second, not necessarily in a bad way, but not quite comfortable yet either. matt's aware of everything: the hum of the fridge, the way her foot bounces a little against the couch cushion, how close the air feels.

he clears his throat. "so, uh, this place is nice."

"it's alright," she says. "kind of too clean. i haven't really unpacked properly yet."

"how long've you been here?"

"a few days."

"oh yeah, right."

he glances around, eyes skimming the records stacked beside the speaker. there's a half-burned candle on the table that smells like vanilla and something herbal. he thinks she'd hate knowing he noticed that.

"how was the flight?" she asks after a second.

"pretty good," he replies quickly. "landed like an hour ago."

"and came here straight after?"

"yeah."

maeve raises an eyebrow. "that's bold."

he smiles, a little crooked. "yeah, well. figured if i waited any longer i'd psych myself out."

she watches him for a second. "you nervous?"

"no," he says. then, quieter, "kinda."

she nods in understanding.

"you?" he asks.

"a little," she admits. "but less now."

they fall quiet again. this time, it's not weird, but rather comfortable and easy. the kind of quiet that doesn't ask to be filled. matt glances at her out of the corner of his eye, a little surprised at how at ease he feels around her — considering the fact that, technically, they barely know each other. but it doesn't feel like that, and hasn't for a while.

he feels like he's known this girl all his life.

maeve leans back into the couch, shifting the pillow behind her with one hand and absentmindedly twisting the end of her ponytail with the other. "you hungry?" she asks, voice low and relaxed.

matt makes a face. "not really. i was asleep when the food came around on the flight. chris forgot to wake me up."

she turns toward him slightly, raising her brows. "that's criminal."

"he was too busy watching megamind," matt explains, and maeve bursts into laughing before nodding approvingly.

"can't blame him then," she muses. "that movie is pretty captivating."

"right," matt replies sarcsastically, but he's smiling all the same.

maeve laughs, soft and genuine, the kind that makes her shoulders move a little. "well, i was gonna order sushi later. if you want any," she tells him then.

he nods. "yeah. that'd be great."

"good." she sinks further into the couch, tucking her legs under her. "i don't need you passing out on me."

"that'd be a dramatic way to make a move," he says, raising his eyebrows.

"for real," she chuckles. "you could just asked for a kiss like a normal person."

he presses his lips together to stop himself from smirking, shifting slightly to face her more. "noted."

she holds his gaze for a second too long before glancing away. "you're a lot quieter in person," she says, her voice gentler now.

"yeah?"

"yeah."

"you're not."

"rude."

"just saying," he replies, grinning. "you're more comfortable than i thought you'd be."

she shrugs, feigning nonchalance. "you flew across the country. i figured i should at least try not to act like a stranger."

he studies her face, the way her eyelashes flick down as she reaches for her water again. "do you still think about it?"

she doesn't have to ask what he means.

she exhales through her nose, tilting her head a little. "yeah. sometimes."

"me too."

they sit like that for a moment — the space between them shrinking not physically, but emotionally, like something is slowly pulling at them both. maeve's fingers are resting lightly against her leg now, tapping once against the soft cotton of her shorts. she looks calm, but there's a quiet intensity in her eyes when she looks back up at him.

"you know," she says slowly, voice quieter now, "you're not how i imagined."

matt raises an eyebrow. "in a good way?"

she tilts her head side to side, pretending to weigh the options. "jury's still out."

he snorts, trying to cover the way his pulse quickens. "you kissed me, though."

"i did," she agrees.

"didn't seem like you hated it."

maeve smiles. "it was dark. i didn't know who you were."

"but you know now."

she nods once. "i do."

matt doesn't move, doesn't lean in or shift closer. he lets the moment breathe, giving her the space to decide if she wants to, well...

maeve's eyes drop to his mouth for just a second before she moves, slow and sure, closing the distance between them. her palm grazes lightly along his jaw as she presses her lips to his.

it's soft. not tentative, but deliberate. it feels like she's been thinking about it for weeks, maybe longer, and now she gets to finally do something about it.

he kisses her back without thinking. his hand finds her waist, resting there like he's not sure if he's allowed to pull her closer. she answers that question herself, shifting into him, her knee brushing his thigh as her hand slides up into his hair.

when they pull apart, she doesn't move far, just enough to see him clearly.

"do you always ambush handsome strangers in dark rooms," he murmurs, "or is that a new thing for you?"

maeve's expression softens into something quieter. "no," she says, brushing her thumb just beneath his lip. "but i guess you're different from the rest."

and then she kisses him again, but deeper this time, like she really means it.

he leans into it, this time with more certainty. her fingers curl in the fabric of his hoodie, tugging him closer until he has no choice but to shift with her, one knee brushing the couch cushion as she slides her hand up to cup the side of his neck. he exhales against her mouth. the second kiss lingers.

the air between them feels heavier now, like it's holding something neither of them wants to name too early.

maeve pulls back slowly, her breath slightly uneven. she looks at him for a beat, then stands, keeping her hand in his. her thumb runs over the back of his knuckles once, briefly, kind of like she's asking him a question.

matt doesn't answer with words. he just follows.

she leads him out of the room, still barefoot, still quiet. the hallway's dimmer, the light from the windows growing softer as the sun begins to dip. everything feels slowed down — like the world's gone a little blurry around the edges.

they don't say anything as she leads him into her bedroom. there's no rush, no fumbling. just her hand in his, his breath catching slightly as she pulls him in.

he shuts the door behind them.

💿

heyyy haha.......

soooo ahah i sorta kinda let this fic rot... again.... soz... everyone thank ari bc she's genuinely the ONLY reason i remember this fic exists and have any inkling of motivation for it LOL

it's js really hard to find motivation since i don't watch the triplets anymore buttttt i'm trying my best bc i've had this entire fic planned for months and i do still love m&m

i have summer break now tho so hopefully i can churn out some more updates faster!!

─ ava ✦